Happy Holidays from Miss Irivng

The holidays are a special time of year when so many reach out into the community and do small acts of kindness to help others. People help in many ways including donating money to a charity, spending time serving food to homeless at a food kitchen, donating items to a food pantry, or buying a toy for a boy or girl who would otherwise not receive a gift. I believe that it is these acts of kindness and selflessness which characterize Christmas and that makes it my absolute favorite time of year.

After Christmas, people go on to make resolutions as they commence the new year. In the past my resolutions have included sticking to a diet, exercising daily, cutting out soda, etc. but this year in addition to my usual resolutions I am taking on a much larger task. This year, I have resolved to make Christmas last all year. No, I do not mean that each of the upcoming 365 days will be filled with actual presents (unfortunately! haha) what I mean is that I want to continue the giving and loving spirit of Christmastime all year long.

The love you give to another by helping them is the bet gift you can possibly give and there is no day better than today to give it. My platform is about the little things each of us can do to help ease the burden of AIDS on families that are impacted by this disease. My "Pennies With a Purpose" campaign is a great way to donate your spare change to a worthwhile cause. To donate you can check us out on Facebook (www.causes.com/StarfishSociety) or at my website (www.jordanjohannsen.com)

Not only do I encourage you to go out into the community to help others but also to help yourself. There are so many benefits of providing for those who are ill or less fortunate. The smiles, the appreciation, and the love that you get in return are absolutely priceless. Love is the best gift you can give or receive. I encourage everyone to open their hearts this year and fill each day with the gift of love. Give and receive and you are sure to have a year full of Christmas!